Golden light whistled through the air like a comet. The Dominators focused their gaze, feeling a slight stinging in their eyes as if staring directly into the blazing sun.
At the source of that golden light was an exquisite goddess. Her facial features were flawless, yet to the high-ranking figures present, what truly commanded wariness and respect was her ethereal, immortal presence and the surging aura capable of purifying all things.
As she drew near the two starlike orbs that were the killing trials, the aloof, elegant goddess suddenly halted.
Whoosh!
Behind her, layer upon layer of golden light surged forward like an ocean tide, fluttering the hem of her skirt and her black hair as its momentum carried it rushing toward the high-ranking figures gathered there.
"What a loathsome presence!"
The Southern Sect Leader of the Nihility Sect gave a gentle wave of his hand.
The golden light surging toward the assembly struck an invisible barrier, reversed its flow, and receded back into the woman in ancient dress.
Empress Sandao surveyed the crowd, her lively dark pupils transforming into brilliant gold.
She glanced over them one by one. Once she perceived their rank, her slender brows twitched slightly.
"All of them are sect-leader figures... and three legendary Human Immortals?
"As expected, now that the power of heaven and earth has revived, this era can already nurture cultivators of the Human Immortal realm."
Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying an ethereal quality untainted by the mortal world.
Elder Gou stared at the woman riding the golden light. A realization struck him, and he blurted out, "Empress Sandao?"
He had heard Elder Sun describe the appearance of the lady of the Mountain God Temple.
In Elder Sun's words: *That woman is gorgeous, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, but she's way too prickly—she'll sting your hands.*
"'Human Immortal' is the term from your era. In modern times, Spirit Realm walkers of my level are called demigods!" The white-haired female Grand Marshal stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her aura yielding nothing to Empress Sandao.
She turned slightly toward Elder Gou. "Is she the ancient Day Wanderer who awoke in Sheling Tunnel?"
The Grand Marshal's voice was just as pleasant, her articulation crisp and tone resonant, yet laced with an innate majesty that instinctively made any listener think of an empress on her throne.
"Indeed!" Elder Gou nodded.
The Dominators of the evil organizations sized up Empress Sandao in surprise, the relevant intelligence surfacing in their minds at once: Yuanshi Tianzun had cleared Sheling Tunnel, resulting in the awakening of an ancient Day Wanderer.
Moreover, this ancient Day Wanderer had triggered changes across Spirit Realms related to Night Wanderers, prompting an official announcement from the authorities.
*Could it be the woman before us?*
"Demigods..." Empress Sandao murmured under her breath. Then, gazing at the white-haired Grand Marshal, she corrected, "Day Wanderer? In my era, we were called Golden Crows!"
With that, she paid no more heed to this group of primordial spirit projections and went straight toward the Transcendent-stage killing trial. Tapping her toe against the void, she plunged toward the starlike pocket world.
The Dominators did not stop her, nor did they have the power to do so.
They were merely strands of will projected into the Spirit Realm.
Yet the Spirit Realm itself barred Empress Sandao. An invisible barrier enveloped the killing trial, shutting her out.
Witnessing this, the heavyweights of both the orthodox and evil factions breathed a collective sigh of relief.
If such a formidable boss entered the killing trial, it would be an absolute catastrophe, leaving their prized juniors in mortal peril.
Fear Heavenly King fingered the silver hoop in his ear and chuckled. "Though you differ from us in that your true body is inside the Spirit Realm, you are ultimately bound by its rules. How could you possibly enter a killing trial?"
Empress Sandao knitted her brow slightly.
After a few seconds of contemplation, she struck without hesitation. Raising her right arm, golden light erupted from her palm to condense into a golden bow. Her left hand drew the bowstring as golden flames leaped from her fingertips, forming a searing arrow.
*Swoosh!*
Golden radiance flared, and the dazzling arrow shot forth like a beam of light.
*Boom!* It detonated against the starlight sphere's surface, dispersing into a wave of brilliance that washed over the entire pocket world before vanishing.
Empress Sandao set her mouth and drew her brows together, her aura climbing steadily. She transformed from an immaculate goddess into a valkyrie drawing a divine bow to a full moon.
*Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!*
Golden arrows shot out one after another, continually exploding across the star's surface as tidal waves of golden light submerged the miniature world.
"Even after losing half your yang soul, you can still unleash the power of a high-tier Dominator. It seems you are only a single step away from the supreme stage," the female Grand Marshal observed, nodding with her hands behind her back.
***
Long Live the White Tiger announced loudly:
"The map for this area is simple. There's only one fork, about twenty meters ahead. Once you pass it, it's a one-way, winding trail.
"Even someone who hasn't seen the map wouldn't get lost because there's only one path with no forks.
"When I was memorizing the route, I thought it was strange—it seemed far too simple. I never expected this place to be a trial stage."
*The fewer forks there are, the easier it feels to get lost, because it doesn't even need forks to confuse us...* World Returns to Fire felt no joy at all; instead, his heart sank.
Just then, a resplendent burst of golden light flared up, piercing through the dense forest and illuminating everyone's faces.
"What's going on?"
Beneath the dense layers of canopy, the Spirit Realm walkers of the Five Elements Alliance looked up in astonishment at the golden light filtering through the leaves into the woods.
By now, their "voluptuous" chests had returned to normal. Upon leaving the Reproduction Forest, the spores within their bodies had lost their vitality and been naturally expelled.
Though the night sky was hidden from view, they could easily imagine that the sky above was now bathed in brilliant golden radiance.
This sudden turn of events left everyone baffled, caught between bewilderment and vigilance, freezing in place without daring to move.
"Th-this golden light... doesn't it look a bit like Yuanshi Tianzun's item?" Peony Fairy asked in surprise.
Hearing this, everyone whipped their heads around toward Yuanshi Tianzun.
*This guy really manages to defy expectations in everything...*
*No way, did that old crone really show up? And this fast?* Zhang Yuanqing's heart skipped a beat.
*Judging by the looks of it, she can't seem to get in. Sure enough, killing trials are instances that even high-ranking beings cannot interfere with...* Maintaining an impassive expression, he said nonchalantly, "It's nothing, pay it no mind."
*Pay it no mind?* Yuanshi Tianzun's tone was so nonchalant—did such an ominous anomaly truly count as a trivial matter in his eyes? The team members were secretly stunned.
*Rustle, rustle...*
Stepping on the carpet of fallen leaves and twigs, the group walked slowly forward. The golden light constantly piercing through the canopy actually provided illumination, so the Fire Masters no longer needed to carry torches.
While moving forward cautiously and recovering his stamina, Zhang Yuanqing opened the map to check the positions of the four teams.
The markers representing the evil faction happened to be right in the Reproduction Forest.
*Heh, let those bastards enjoy the thrill of their chests expanding and deflating too. Without purifying items, getting through the Reproduction Forest won't be easy for them... Then again, the traitor in our group probably warned them about the danger in advance, so they're bound to be prepared.*
*Speaking of which, The Little Match Boy really did touch the roadside trees every so often, but he didn't leave any marks on the trunks.*
*Without lie-detection methods, spirit questioning after killing is the only way to find the truth, leaving almost no room for trial and error.*
Thinking of spirit questioning, Zhang Yuanqing stopped in his tracks, looked at Guan Ya beside him, and said, "Sister Guan Ya, cover me. I'm going to look through Human Nature Is Inherently Evil's memories."
The mixed-blood beauty clad in vine armor nodded slightly.
Zhang Yuanqing promptly closed his eyes and dispersed the lunar energy enveloping Human Nature Is Inherently Evil's spirit body, completing the consumption.
A torrent of mental energy reeking of intense malice flooded into his sea of consciousness like a tidal wave.
Having used the Demon-Subduing Pestle several times, Zhang Yuanqing had long since cleansed the stray foreign consciousnesses within him, enduring the onslaught of evil mental energy without budging.
He quickly accessed the corresponding memories.
—The one who organized the Illusionists to set the ambush was Nothing Is Taboo.
The one who knew Yuanshi Tianzun was setting an ambush was also Nothing Is Taboo.
And in the Labyrinth Forest, the action Nothing Is Taboo performed frequently was pressing his ear.
From Human Nature Is Inherently Evil's memory fragments, Zhang Yuanqing saw that inside Nothing Is Taboo's left ear canal was a small object shaped like a snail shell.
*Is this the item he uses to communicate with the traitor?*
*A Spirit Realm earpiece?*
*In that case, figuring out who the traitor is will be simple...* Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, forcibly concluding the spirit questioning, and shouted:
"Stop!
"Everyone, stop—"
His voice abruptly cut off. Ahead of him, tree shadows swayed gloomily, the golden light flickering erratically. The path wound deep into the woods, but there was not a soul in sight.
With a stiff expression, Zhang Yuanqing turned his head to look for Guan Ya beside him.
His side was empty.
Guan Ya was gone too.
Everyone had vanished—disappeared without a sound, as if he were the only person left in the entire world.
***
The golden light slowly faded. Empress Sandao ceased shooting arrows, frowning in silence.
Seeing her calm down, Elder Gou said, "If you form an alliance with us and handle matters on our behalf within the Spirit Realm, I will return that item to you."
A high-tier Dominator—no, a half-step supreme being—who could freely traverse the Spirit Realm world could accomplish a great many things.
"I roam carefree and unfettered, bound by no constraints."
Empress Sandao adopted an aloof posture and flatly refused.
Elder Gou said no more.
A Dominator from the Nihility Sect let out a chuckle. "Lady Mountain God, why not collaborate with us instead? We can take back that item for you and even kill Yuanshi Tianzun along the way to vent your anger."
Empress Sandao shot him a glance. "I do not associate with demonic scoundrels."
*A lofty, prideful Day Wanderer, are we...* The evil faction's heavyweights eyed her with displeasure.
Yet here inside the Spirit Realm, they were the ones who had reason to fear this ancient Day Wanderer, for she could extinguish their conscious projections without breaking a sweat, banishing them from the Spirit Realm.
"Demonic scoundrels..." Fear Heavenly King asked, "Are you from the Song dynasty, or the Tang dynasty? Though looking at your attire, it seems more like the Ming."
The aloof lady ignored him entirely. Her silk dress fluttering, she flew closer to the killing trial and looked down upon the primeval forest inside the miniature world.
Fear Heavenly King shrugged. "Your snub displeases me, but whether you answer or not is your prerogative."
Gazing down at a certain spot in the forest where a fellow was looking all around in confusion, the Mountain God's frigid face suddenly broke into a faint smile.
*I still have a card up my sleeve!*
***
"Is this what 'Moving Forest' means?"
Zhang Yuanqing frowned deeply.
His teammates had all vanished, and he had no idea where they had gone.
*I can't afford to waste time. The evil faction will catch up soon...* Without another word, Zhang Yuanqing drew the Demon-Subduing Pestle and stabbed it viciously into his thigh.
After obtaining the purifying power, he looked around to examine his surroundings. Once he confirmed he was not under the influence of an illusion, he determined that the Moving Forest's ability was "spatial teleportation."
His teammates truly had been transferred elsewhere.
He shifted to analyzing the teleportation mechanism of the Moving Forest:
*In all likelihood, it only teleports within the Moving Forest and won't send people anywhere else; otherwise, the difficulty rating wouldn't match the stage... My position hasn't changed, as proven by the leaves by my feet. So the ones who were teleported away were the others...*
*Is the target of the teleportation moving objects?*
As he was breaking it down, Jiang Jingwei's booming, energetic hollering rang out nearby:
"Yuanshi Tianzun! Sister Guan Ya—!"
Turning to look, he saw a red-haired girl walking down the path they had come from, bellowing as she walked.
*Right, you can just rely on shouting to attract companions. What a crude, straightforward method—sometimes being simple-minded really has its perks.* Zhang Yuanqing walked up to meet her. "I'm over here."
Jiang Jingwei hadn't expected her shouting to actually produce someone. Overjoyed, she bounded over like a fawn.
"I was just walking along when everyone suddenly vanished! Did I get caught in one of your Night Wanderer ghost-induced mazes?"
Jiang Jingwei crashed headlong into Zhang Yuanqing's chest, brimming with delight.
"It's not a ghost maze, probably something like spatial teleportation," Zhang Yuanqing said, then asked, "How did they disappear?"
"They were just walking along, and then they were gone," Jiang Jingwei answered.
Zhang Yuanqing gave up on probing for details. After a brief pause, he said, "Let's hold hands and walk together to see if we get separated. Also, keep shouting, don't stop."
The two immediately linked hands and walked forward together.
Jiang Jingwei hollered as they went, though Guan Ya was now the only name she called.
*It seems Jingwei doesn't have many friends either. Makes sense—she's young and spends most of her time studying at home with private tutors. Add to that her sensitive background, and the only people she's familiar with are probably her family and our Second Team...*
Zhang Yuanqing surveyed the area ahead and behind as these thoughts crossed his mind.
Before long, their shouts drew Asano Ryo over.
The Japanese high school girl came running from ahead, her pure, pretty face alight with ecstatic relief, looking just like the heroine in a horror film who had finally encountered another living human.
Zhang Yuanqing gave her a look. "Skip the chatter. Take my hand and walk with us. And start shouting too."
The volume instantly grew considerably louder.
In this manner, they gathered teammate after teammate.
Unlike with the first two, whenever Zhang Yuanqing found a teammate, he had them turn their head to expose their ear, checking whether there was an earpiece inside.
This included The Little Match Boy.
Zhang Yuanqing counted heads and noticed they were still short one person. "Tone-Deaf hasn't been found yet. Keep shouting... No, wait, hold on a second. Everyone, based on my observations and tests, our locations constantly shift as we walk, which is why everyone was scattered across different parts of the Moving Forest.
"Standing still prevents spatial teleportation, and holding hands prevents us from being separated.
"However, we have to keep moving forward. Unless we address this, we'll keep teleporting through the forest endlessly—meaning we'll be trapped wandering here forever without being able to get out. Does anyone have any ideas?
"The evil faction will soon catch up to us. Time is of the essence, so put your thinking caps on."
He had expected the group would need a lengthy discussion, but to his surprise, World Returns to Fire spoke up from the middle of the line:
"First, we must understand that while the spatial movement might be disordered, it definitely isn't continuous. Otherwise, no one could ever get out, and an unsolvable puzzle wouldn't appear in a minor stage like this.
"Therefore, it must pause at certain intervals, during which anyone traveling through won't be moved. Those intervals are our window of opportunity."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
World Returns to Fire continued:
"It's very simple. We just need to establish reference points. Taking our current spot as the starting point, we write a '1' on the ground, then after twenty paces, a '2,' and keep repeating that.
"We start timing from the moment we write '1.' If, by the time we reach '10,' we find ourselves back at '1' or somewhere else, the interval between 1 and 10 is our safe window.
"Once we calculate the safe window, it's easy. For instance, if the safe window is ten minutes, we can sprint for nine minutes and stop during the final minute. Staying stationary prevents teleportation.
"Once that minute passes, we resume advancing."
World Returns to Fire's method won unanimous approval.
At once, they began marking numbers on the ground as they advanced, calling out Tone-Deaf's name all the while.
By the time they reached the number 15, Tone-Deaf, having heard his comrades' shouts, finally rushed over and rejoined the team.
When they reached number 20, they had yet to encounter any previously marked numbers.
"Spatial teleportation has likely occurred, but the Moving Forest is too vast, and we weren't teleported to an area where we left marks," Zhang Yuanqing said after a moment's thought. "Keep moving forward!"
When they reached number 100, the group saw the number "22" appear on the ground ahead.
Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. "A reference point has appeared! Start timing!"
Everyone began counting the time in their heads while slowing their pace. When they passed the mark of "45," the "46" that should have been ahead had turned into "30."
"Four minutes! From 22 to 30, the interval was four minutes!" Long Live the White Tiger yelled.
"Run!" Zhang Yuanqing shouted.
Like this, they paused every two and a half minutes, and after ten minutes, they finally sprinted out of that winding, one-way path with no forks.
[Ding! You have successfully passed through the Moving Forest. Reward: 10 points.]
"We're finally out!"
"Nice, no one died this time."
"Phew, we're almost out of the Labyrinth Forest. Let's hurry to the mountain summit!"
At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing swept a sharp gaze across the group.
"Who? Who got the reward item?"
Chapter 259